Quick answer
Group your guests by how they know you, place the head table and family tables first, then fill the remaining tables group by group. Start once most RSVPs are in; our checklist finishes the chart 1 month before the wedding. Seat people with at least one person they know.
Wait for most of the replies
A seating chart built on guesses gets rebuilt. Start once most RSVPs are in, and keep the few undecided guests in pencil. Mark seats held by people who have not replied, so you can see where space may open up.
Know your tables
Ask your venue for the floor plan, the table shapes and how many seats each table takes. Our seating chart tool starts you with a head table of 8 and round tables of 10, which you can change to match your venue.
Group guests before placing them
Sort everyone into groups: each side's family, school friends, work friends, neighbors, and so on. Most tables will be one group or two groups that will get along. Thinking in groups is far faster than placing a hundred individuals.
Place the key tables first
Decide the head table or sweetheart table, then the parents' and grandparents' tables near you. Seat older guests away from the speakers and close to the restrooms, and families with small children near an exit.
Fill the rest group by group
Place the large groups next, then the small ones, then the guests who do not fit anywhere. For those, find the table where they share the most in common, and make sure they know at least one person there.
Check, then freeze it
Read each table and ask: will everyone here enjoy the evening? Then freeze the chart and send the final version to your venue and planner. Late changes are fine, but every one should be made in the same single copy.
Frequently asked questions
When should we start the wedding seating chart?
Once most RSVPs are in. Our planning checklist puts collecting RSVPs and finishing the seating chart 1 month before the wedding.
How many guests fit at one table?
It depends on the venue's tables, so ask for their floor plan. Our seating chart tool starts with round tables of 10 and a head table of 8, which you can change.
Where should we seat guests who do not know anyone?
At the table where they share the most in common, and always next to at least one person they know or will likely get along with.
Do we need assigned seats or just assigned tables?
Assigned tables are enough for most weddings. Assign individual seats only for a plated meal with different choices, or at the head table.